NNFP Director of Web Services
What Types of Sites Require a Programmer
Websites that only involve HTML code and image files are called static sites. With static sites, every time you want a new page on your website, you build it and link it from the other pages. The only thing that viewers can do on a static site is click a link and view the page. With basic web development and graphic skills, you can build a static site.
Programmed, or dynamic website pages are a more complicated. Any page where a viewer can enter data or make choices beyond clicking is a programmed web page, also called a dynamic page. Web pages with search boxes or shopping carts are examples of dynamic pages.
Many dynamic websites are database driven. That means that you enter the information you want to show up into an online form. The programming attached to the online form puts the information into the database Then, when a viewer goes to the page, the programming on the page displays the relevant data from the database. That is how blog software, such as WordPress works. You enter your new blog entry into a form. The blog software pushes the entry into the database. When viewers go to your blog, the programming shows them your latest post and creates links to other posts.
What the Programmer will do for you
Explain the process: You may be able to choose, download and install the program you need on your website. Many people do. However, most people do not find it quite as easy as the software website claims it is! Once you have been through the process one time, it starts to make some sense, and further website software installations are much easier. Here are some things you may need a programmer to do for you: Expect your programmer to explain each step; so, that you can decide whether you want to do this for yourself the next time.
Define requirements: A good programmer will help you create a list of User Requirements, which defines what you want the software to do and how. For example, how do you want the system to respond if a viewer types their phone number in the first name field to order your product? Should the system just take the phone number and go on? Should the system go blank? Should the system give the viewer a prompt that numbers aren’t allowed in the First Name field? A programmer can help you make a list of requirements that looks like “The program should …” Example: The program should send the user an email to confirm the transaction.
Match software packages to requirements: After you have a list of requirements, a programmer can help you find a list of software products that fulfills those requirements. Software websites have lists of the features of the software. Unfortunately, those features are often written in geek, not in plain English. You may want to review the lists with your programmer to learn the terminology and what it means to your website. Also, those lists only list the major features, not the details of how each feature works. However, the feature list will help you find a short list of the packages that meet your major requirements.
Match software to server resources: Part of creating your short list will also be considering what type of server resources you have available on your web server compared to the resources the software needs. One of the big decisions will be whether the software should be able to run on a Linux server or a Windows server. If you already have a website, you may not be able to switch server types easily. Your programmer will help you make the match.
If your server is a Linux server, you can’t add any programs written in ASP or ASP.NET. There are many other server decisions that your programmer should understand. If the software was written in a new version of PHP or other programming language, does your web hosting company have the right version on their server? Also, the software may take some special additional server features. If your web server doesn’t have those features, that software cannot run on that web server. Sometimes it’s just a matter of your programmer knowing how to turn those features on in your hosting package.
Test user interface and marketing truthfulness: After you have found the short list of packages that match your web server resources, it is time to test the programming through a demo version. If the software site doesn’t offer a demo, don’t add them to your short list. You should be testing the demo as if you were one of your customers. While a programmer should also test the system from the user interface standpoint, the programmer should also be testing how difficult it will be for you to add your data to the system, and other aspects that will affect your workflow. It is not uncommon to test many packages and find out that none of them match your needs exactly.
Due diligence: For the 2 or 3 demos that most closely match your requirements, have your programmer call the staff of sites that use that software. If the software is very common, your programmer won’t have added them to the list, if they weren’t good. Sometimes, it is amazing what people will tell you about the software. I have had software clients who were listed on someone’s website tell me that the software was just awful and they switched! You can do this step, but your programmer will know more questions to ask.
Downloading and installing: after you have settled your decision on which software package to use, you will download the software into the development computer, extract the files from the archived version and upload them to your web server. The system you want may actually have different archive versions. Your programmer should understand the different versions and recommend the right one for your situation.
The software package you selected is likely to require a database. If you have never set up a database within your server space, your programmer should know how to set it up for you. Some web hosting companies make it very easy to set up a new database in your control panel. The install process for your new software will probably require you to “configure” the software to work with your web server and with your database server before the software is functional. Again, your programmer should be happy to explain this part to you.
Web services: Some program systems are actually web services that run on their servers, such as PayPal or Regonline. When your viewers uses those services, connected with your website, they actually aren’t working in your files, they are working in web service files that are within your account. WordPress has both an online web service and a downloadable version for installation on your own web server. Your programmer should discuss the benefits and weaknesses of either choice.
Customizing the software package: There may be a few things about your new software that you wish worked differently. If your software is open source, your programmer will be able to tweek those things for you. Always be aware that any tweeking that is done may not work with upgrades to the software package.
Conclusion
The first time you set up software on your website, it might seem like an extremely complicated and never ending process, even if you have the assistance of a programmer. However, once you have a successful, functional installation, the next time, your experience will shorten the time and learning curve for the installation of other software packages!